Through consistency, strategy, and heart, one can rise, quietly but powerfully, to serve both country and continent.
On June 28th, Eng. Hersi officially picked up nomination forms to contest for the parliamentary seat of Kigamboni. In a country where leaders often emerge from tradition and old political lines, Hersi Said has carved a different path—his journey is one defined by determination, vision, and unwavering commitment to growth. His path led him to pursue engineering at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), with hunger for excellence and global exposure, he furthered his studies in United Kingdom, gaining advanced and professional experience that would later shape his approach to leadership. Eng. Hersi Ally Said has, over the years, charted a path that led him deep into the worlds of football and business, two arenas where he has discovered both purpose and passion. Today, he stands as a distinguished leader privileged to serve in roles that impact not only his nation but the African continent at large. As President of Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga) – he has redefined club leadership with a forward-thinking, results-driven approach. In his capacity as Chairman of the African Club Association (ACA), Hersi champions the growth of football by empowering clubs with a united vision for continental progress. Simultaneously, he serves as Director of Investment at GSM Group, a leading Tanzanian conglomerate, through these platforms, Hersi continues to blend intellect, strategy, and service, embodying a new generation of African leadership driven by systems, not saviours.
Hersi Ally Said was born in 1984, in Dodoma, the political heart of Tanzania and raised in Kisarawe. While his professional journey has taken him to stadiums, boardrooms, and leadership platforms across the continent, at his core, Hersi is a devoted husband and proud father. “Through everything I do, whether football, business, or community, is guided by the desire to create systems that outlive us,” he shares. “To build structures that work for our people, and to be part of writing a better story for Tanzania and Africa.” It is this foundation—firmly rooted in faith, family, and national pride, that fuels Hersi’s leadership.
I believe in the power of young people and entrusted them with leading roles, especially in driving our digital transformation.” — Eng. Hersi
Hersi has often said, an ethos that reflects not just his leadership at Yanga, but a broader vision for Tanzania and Africa. As a young and bold changemaker, his track record speaks for itself. In June 2025, he completed an Executive Program at the prestigious Harvard Business School, sharpening his strategic leadership and governance credentials. Just two months earlier, in April 2025, Hersi was honored by the World Football Summit (WFS) in Rabat, Morocco, for his critical role in uniting African clubs under one voice. That same leadership was evident at a high-level committee meeting between the African Club Association (ACA), which he chairs, and CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe—where his advocacy led to milestone achievement: increasing the support package for clubs eliminated in preliminary rounds of CAF tournaments from $50,000 to $100,000 starting from the 2025/2026 season. This was not just a win for clubs, but a statement of what structured dialogue, strategic lobbying, and visionary leadership can achieve.
If elected as Member of Parliament for Kigamboni, Hersi’s approach is likely to mirror these same principles” empowering youth, pushing for institutional reforms, and negotiating tangible gains for his constituency. His style, data-driven, inclusive, and systems-oriented, positions him as a new-age leader ready to bring global thinking to local governance, while remaining deeply rooted in the needs of his people. For Kigamboni, and perhaps Tanzania at large, that could mark the beginning of a more accountable and innovative era in politics.
